October 07, 2016

Rep. Ruben Gallego Congratulates Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos for Receiving the Nobel Peace Prize

Washington, DC – Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for his work to negotiate a peace deal to end a half-century of conflict with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC).

Rep. Ruben Gallego issued the following statement:

“I want to congratulate President Juan Manuel Santos on being awarded the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize, a well-deserved recognition of his bold leadership and continued determination throughout the long and arduous peace process.

“Though challenges remain, I am confident that both parties will reach a deal that will address the remaining concerns of the Colombian people. I recently had the privilege of traveling to Colombia to witness the vote on the peace deal, and was struck by the Colombian people’s commitment to achieving peace, and their resilience and capacity for forgiveness.

“After standing with Colombia through decades of war, the United States must continue to stand with the Colombian people as they continue to work for a just and lasting peace. As the first Colombian American elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, I remain committed to strengthening the ties between our nations and ensuring that the Colombian government can continue to count on strong support from Congress at this critical juncture in their nation’s history.”

Congressman Ruben Gallego is the first Colombian-American Member of Congress.